Kedarnath ‘helicopter crash caused by…’: SDRF says rescue operation remains challenging in Uttarakhand

Seven people died after a helicopter crash took place on the Kedarnath route in Uttarakhand early Sunday. What led to the chopper crash? The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said that, according to preliminary information, "bad weather is being considered as the possible cause of this accident."

Inspector General (Garhwal Range) Rajiv Swaroop said that the site of the crash was a very remote area.

The SDRF also said that the rescue operation "remains challenging as the incident spot is in a difficult and inaccessible forest area."

Inspector General Garhwal Rajiv Swaroop said the helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation Guptkashi, had taken off for Gaurikund in the Rudraprayag district after taking devotees to Kedarnath.

The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) said the crash took place around 5:20 am. It was quoted by ANI as saying that the helicopter was going from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi.

“We received the information today [Sunday] morning that a helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation Guptkashi, has crashed while returning from Kedarnath due to bad weather, in which five pilgrims, one child and one pilot were on board. Rescue operation is underway,” Rahul Choubey, District Tourism Officer, Rudraprayag said.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) sources said seven people were onboard the helicopter. They included “Rajveer, the pilot, Vikram Rawat, a resident of BKTC, Rasi Ukhimath, Vinod, Trist Singh, Rajkumar, Shraddha and Rashi, a girl aged 10 years," sources said.

The passengers in the helicopter hailed from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Utttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Aauthority (UCDA) said that the NDRF and SDRF teams have been dispatched to the spot of the crash for rescue operations.